Two southeastern Wisconsin Red Cross volunteers have dropped everything for a familiar journey down south to help people along the Gulf Coast.Clutching their Red Cross vests, Lynn and Carleen Hasenstab know the drill when it comes to storm response. So within 24 hours, they packed their bags and left Beaver Dam on Wednesday morning."Lots of under clothes and socks, extra T-shirts, as much Red Cross material as we can," Carleen Hasenstab said.Now they're trying to get to the Gulf, just like they did seven years ago."We were there for the Katrina disaster for three weeks. This one we're hoping for two weeks. We're not sure yet," Carleen Hasenstab said.They were on a 1 p.m. flight to Dallas, but that might be as far as they get by plane because nothing is getting in or out of New Orleans.The long-time emergency volunteers said the plan is to meet up with other Red Cross volunteers in Texas and caravan to ground zero, where 15 other local volunteers will be waiting for them."We like to help people out. We figure everybody needs help sometime," Lynn Hasenstab said.So the possibly very long journey down south begins, and while the couple said every natural disaster is different, they're ready for the challenge.The Red Cross said most of its volunteers left ahead of the storm, and it's unclear how long they'll be down there or if more will be asked to go.

MILWAUKEE —

Two southeastern Wisconsin Red Cross volunteers have dropped everything for a familiar journey down south to help people along the Gulf Coast.

Clutching their Red Cross vests, Lynn and Carleen Hasenstab know the drill when it comes to storm response. So within 24 hours, they packed their bags and left Beaver Dam on Wednesday morning.

Advertisement

"Lots of under clothes and socks, extra T-shirts, as much Red Cross material as we can," Carleen Hasenstab said.

Now they're trying to get to the Gulf, just like they did seven years ago.

"We were there for the Katrina disaster for three weeks. This one we're hoping for two weeks. We're not sure yet," Carleen Hasenstab said.

They were on a 1 p.m. flight to Dallas, but that might be as far as they get by plane because nothing is getting in or out of New Orleans.

The long-time emergency volunteers said the plan is to meet up with other Red Cross volunteers in Texas and caravan to ground zero, where 15 other local volunteers will be waiting for them.

"We like to help people out. We figure everybody needs help sometime," Lynn Hasenstab said.

So the possibly very long journey down south begins, and while the couple said every natural disaster is different, they're ready for the challenge.

The Red Cross said most of its volunteers left ahead of the storm, and it's unclear how long they'll be down there or if more will be asked to go.